Oil-distributing projectile



W. W.. LEB. OIL DISTRIBUTING PROJEGTILE.

@No Model.)

Patented Oct. 19,'1897.

WWA/:55225- iinrrnn v rArnS PATENT @erica WILLIAM WILSON LEE, oFNoRTHAMPro'N, MASSACHUSETTS.

ein-oseraleurine l PROJ ecrans.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,853, dated october 19, leen Application filed December 9, 1896. Serial No.'615,075. (No model.)

T o all whom. it 71mm concern:

' Beit known that I, WILLIAM WILSON LEE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Northampton,in the conntyof Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Projectile, of which the following is a speciiicatiom'reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

. My'invention relates to that class of pro-v jectiles containinga reservoir for oil or other fluid, and designed to be fired or thrown by suitable guns or other contrivances, either from vessels or from on shpre, for quieting heavy seas or breakers.

The object of my invention is to provide a projectile with a reservoir containing oil or other suitable fluid which may be fired or thrown a suitable distance ahead of a vessel,

and'so constructed that it will oat and at the same time permit the oil to slowly flow from the reservoir into the water and thus smooth the heavy seas or produce a slick, as it is called, so that when the vessel arrives at the point where the projectile is float-ing, or in its vicinity, the water will be .practically quiet. By the use of a number of these projecnles at proper intervals it is obvious that the vessel may sail in comparatively smooth water as long as may be desired.

The invention consists, broadly, of a shell made of suitable materialmand a reservoir adapted to contain oil or other fluid, in combination with valve mechanism operating by the weight of the valve toopen the reservoir, whereby when the shell isfrn the Water the oil or other fluid is caused to flow outwardly from the reservoir and be distributed.

' It also consists of the novel fea-tures of construction hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a central longitudinal section of the projectile. Eig, 2 is a top plan view-of the projectile with conical cap removed. Fig. 3 is a bbttom planv view with steel cap removed; and Fig. 4 is a portion of a central section of the projectile inverted, showing thevalve dropped from its scat.

Tiikelctters refer to like parts throughout the several views. h l

n denotes the shell of the projectile, made cylindrical in form and preferably of wood or Some other suitable buoyant material.

b isa cap made preferably of lead, provided with inlet-holes b' b' and securely fastened to the upper portion of the shell a.

c is a conical-shaped cap made preferablyY of brass, provided with outletholes cf c and securely lfastened to the lower portion of the shell.

The holes b' b' and c' c'are preferably so constructed with reference to each other that the combined area of the holes b b are substantially equal to the combined area of the holes c c', in order that the oil may flow out of the holes c' c substantially as rapidly as the water flows through the holes b D'.

d is a rod made of any suitable material, though preferably made of brass, having a conical flanged portion d near its base. This rod passes through the caps b and c and is free to move through the same to a limited extent, as hereinafter stated. The conical portion d' extends nearly to the inner vci reumference of the shell, and its function is substantially that of a valvehaving for its seat the conical portion c.

d2 is a pin in the lower portion of the rod d,

which, when the projectile is inverted, restsI upon the conical-shaped cap c and arrests the downward movement of said rod.

c is a conical-shaped shell made preferably of brass or other lsuitable material soldered to the top of the rod d, forming the point of the projectile and covering the holes b' b until forced downwardly, as hereinafter statedf f is the base of the projectile and consists of a cap made of steel or other suitable material loosely or detachably connected with the lower portion of the shell a and cap c. The sides of this cap b are reinforced with copper 'g' to prevent injury to the inside of the barrel of the gun when being fired.

rlhe parts above described are preferably so constructed with relation to each other that when the shell is immersed in the' water in an linverted position, as hereinafter stated, the bottom portion will float at or near the surface. of the water. l

W hen the projectile is not in use, it is placed IOO upon its base, as shown in Fig. l, the conicalcal cap c, which prevents the oil or other fluidfrom iiowing out. Vhen using the projectile,

,it is fired from any suitable gun or other means in the desired direction and to the .drops off into the Water in transit. The point of the shell beingmade of lead'and heavier than its base strikes the Water iirst and the 'shell plunges4 downwardly into the waterfer a short distance and 4then rises to the surface of the water in an in-verted position, as shown in Figje. The rod d by its own weight drops downwardly until arrested by .the pin d2. This forces the point or cap e downward and unseats the valve d", thus allowing the Water to flow into the holes @"c and .force the oil slowly around the flanged portion d", and out through the holes b b', and accomplishes the purpose desired.'

I do not hereby intend to limit my invention to' the precise construction above set forth and described, for it is obvious that the details of construction may be varied Without departing from the spirit of my invention. What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I y l'. A projectile adapted to be thrown Ato a distance, comprising a shell, and a reservoir adapted to contain oil or other Huid and provided with a normallyclosed inlet and an outlet passage, in combination with valve mechanism operated by Weight of the valve itself for opening said reservoir.

2. A projectile adapted tofoe thrown to a distance comprising a shell, and a reservoir adapted to containA oil or other fluid and provided with anormally-closed inlet in its top portion and a normally-closed outlet in its bottom portion, in combination with valve mechanism operated by the weight of the valve itself for opening said reservoir.

3. A projectile'adapted tovbe thrown to a distance, comprising a shell, a reservoir adapted to contain oil or other iiu'id and provided With a normally-closed inlet and outlet passage, and an automatieallyfdetaehable base, in combination with valve mechanism for opening said reservoir.

4. lA projectile adapted to be thrown to a distance comprising a shell, a reservoir adapted to contain oil or other fluid and provided with a normally-closed inlet and outlet passageyincombination with cap Z) provided with normally-closed inlet-hole b', cap c pro; vided with a normally-closed outlet-hole c', rod d provided with valve d for/opening said reservoir only when the vprojectile is inverted. Y v5. A projectile adapted to be thrown to a distance comprising ar shell, a reservoir adapted to contain oil or otheriiuid and providedwith a normally-closed inlet and outlet passage, in combination with Acap b provided with a normallyclosed inlet-hole b', cap c provided with a normally-closed outlet-holec, rod Z provided withl Valve d and conical shell e.

G. A projectile adapted' to .be thrown to a distance, having an oil-reservoir; a reservoirinlet toward the front end of 4the projectile' and rescrvoir-outlet near the butt-end of the projectile; and means which control said inlet and outlet; one end of the vprojectile being Weighted to cause the projectile to float the other end up, in the water, and the inlet and outlet being then automatically' opened to permit water to flow in the reservoir at the inlet to expel the oil therefrom at the outlet. v

soi

In testimon whereof .lhave signed In name to this specilication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 30th day of October, A. D. 1896. u

- WILLIAM WILSON LEE.

'Vitnesses:

0; li. PIERCE, LEUTITIA J. WEBSTER 

